My whole point is this.
*In Real-life the ships travel a lot faster than they do the game.
Ie a trip to the moon in Normal space for a destroyer would only take about a day in real-life, where as in the game to travel that same distance would take most of a year (1/2 to 3/4) as i worked out.
*Therefore if the Ship's subspace drive is
damaged beyond repair - that rules out field replacements as well - but it's normal space engines are still functioning, then the ship can "walk home" - travel back the old fashioned way. And as the ships travel faster, the trip only takes a few weeks/months as opposed to years.
Besides the way i understand it. The Subspace drive only opens the portal, the is then pulled in by the forces.
Think of it like this:
You = Ship [Note -you'd be wearing a space suit
to hole-pokers
Your Fist = subspace drive
Interior of space station = Normal Space
Window to ouside of space station = Barrier between SS & NS
Space outside spacestation = Subspace
Your are on a space station = Ship in normal Space
You punch through and shatter the Window with the outside view = Subspace Drive Puching through the barrier between SS & NS - portal opens
You are ejected from the spacestation by the Explosive decompression = ship is drawn through by the tidal forces
You are floating outside the spacestation = Ship in Subspace
The Window self-repairs behind you stopping others from following = Barrier between SS & NS self-repairs and no-one drawn in - portal closes, no-one else can use it
[Note if the ship is disabled, that's you getting caught on somthing preventing you from being ejected. Maybe your boots are magnetic or something or you are caught on the window frame]
Jumping back to Subspace = You puching through an underwater window from the exterior - the water pressure carries you inside